Nearing the end - to blog or not to blog - blogtoberfest day 29

Well the end of blogtoberfest is in sight - 2 more posts after this, and for better or worse I've stayed the course.

Mostly it has been fine - and lots of fun - and I'm found some great blogs and today I even met (really!) a blogger I first "met" through blogtoberfest! How cool is that?!

It wasn't planned - it wasn't a date or anything, we just both happened to have a stall at the Museum of Fire Doll, Bear and Craft Fair.

But, I digress...I must admit that the last couple of days it's been a struggle to blog. I've been so busy getting ready for the aforementioned fair and yesterday was a pretty lame attempt - I blogged my lunch (!)

And it led me to wonder is it better to have blogged and lost than to never blog at all?!
Or is it better to blog only about worthy, meaningful things and if you don't have anything to say then just "shut up!"?

And with that I will take my own advice and disappear.....

my stall at the Museum of Fire

using a couple of old cases to display tshirts

You can find blogtoberfest participants here.

Blogtoberfest giveaways are here.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Check list for rainy day craft markets - blogtoberfest day 8

Well here we are at Leura Fair!
Unfortunately it wasn't "fair" all day! A little bit damp, not as bad as some...but not the best.

Anyway we soldiered on and it made me think that once you have commited to a big market-type thing like this you really have to be prepared and make the best of it.

Most markets and festival are not cancelled if it rains and you don't get our money back if you don't go or if you go home early bcause you are not prepared.

So what do you need to take to be prepared for all eventualities?

Check list -

1. Gazebo - nice and strong and with a waterproof canopy. And preferrably with removable walls.
Some walls zip up and tie on, some velcro on.

2. Weights to secure your gazebo. Sandbags, empty 2 litre milk bottles filled with sand. If you are on grass you can use tent pegs instead.

3. Towel to dry up drips or wipe away mud.

4. It helps if you set up your tables and display so that they are set back from the drip line of the tent.

5. Also if you set up in a U-shape them people can still come inside and see you wares. Mostly I like to set up so that my tables are at the egde of the gazebo and I stand behind them, but very wet weather calls for different tactics.

6. Dress warmly and waterproofly yourself. Nothing worse than looking like a drowned rat all day with wet feet!!

7. Some people like clear plastic sheets, like painting drop sheets, to cover their stock.
Personally I don't like this unless you are absolutely desperate as it really discourages customers - unless all the customers have gone home.

8. Sometimes rain is accompanied by strong winds in which case you will need to make sure that your stock and display items don't blow away.
I favour display props that are not easily blown down or ones you can clamp to the table or weigh down in some way.
I have even been known to tie my display to the table with ropes or those elastic bungy straps with hooks on the ends, you know the ones? Not very attractive but sure beats watching half your stock fly down the paddock!

9. Anything else you can think of?

10. Above all - keep smiling : )
Hopefully it won't end up like this -

You can find blogtoberfest participants here.

Blogtoberfest giveaways are here.

And my giveaway is here!

To market, to market -

Another one of my irregular posts about markets.



It's a bit of a quiet time market-wise at this time of year.
A perfect time to do some planning for the coming spring festival season.

So what do you do with your 'down time'?

Apart from ordering more supplies and building your stock up?
Well every year I tell myself I'm going to do that - but.....well maybe I will this year!

Maybe your stall needs a revamp?
I know mine does!

These things are on my to-do list

- get some new table cloths
- get a new display for earrings
- make my display more on eye level

I've been looking at what other people do with tables cloths.
My friend Chris recommends that crinkly velvet stuff, because it doesnt need ironing.

I like to use a pale neutral colour to display my jewellery on, as the glass beads show up well against a light background. However a light colour is more likely to show the dirt (and coffee, icecream, hot dog stains! - you name it, it's been spilled on my stall!)
so a fabric which washes easily.

Here is some inspiraton from flickr groups Arts & Cratfs Fairs & Shows and Show Me your Booths







I just love this earring display by AdornedbyRobin!


Do you have any suggestions?
What do you use to cover your tables?
What do you think looks nice?

dont you just love -

a brand new stack of fat quarters?





I went to the Sydney quilt and craft fair yesterday with three other lovely DUSTy ladies.
We all do different things even though three of us make jewellery but our styes are very different.

Mandy of Beadsme and Radical Glass makes beautiful dainty pieces using glass and gemstones as well as fused glass pendants and earrings.

green pastures by radical glass

Rachel of LaFemmeJewels creates elegant jewellery using quality components.
She has also just opened a shop for her enamel and metal designs, rmdjewellery.

earrings by rmdjewellery

Somewhat outnumbered was Julie from julieblanchette who is a felt and fibre artist, but we managed to walk the length and breadth of the show, and fit in a couple of pit stops at the coffee shop.

gnomes set by julieblanchette

We all came away with a few goodies!

Even though I dont need all these fabrics, they were too beautiful to resist!

Some of them will be appliqued to BoosTees tshirts, other made into cute little pin brooches.

I bought a few beads, so look out for an update.

Oh, and I bought some wool to knit myself a jumper - dont hold your breath for that one!

what do you love?

Where I was today - and will be tomorow

There is aMuseum of Fire nearby that has a Doll, Bear and Craft fair once a year as a major fundraiser.

They move some of the fire engines out and put the stalls in.


This is my space.


I am able to use the display cases in my area.

The cups and trophies are not mine - they belong to a long gone fire brigade.



I apologise for the quality of these photos.
I'll try and get some better ones tomorrow.

success at markets

image by jett loe via flickr

Ok, so you've identified a suitable market to try and you have your goods and props ready to go.

Off you go and set everything up.
It looks great!

What next?

Here are some tips for a successful market, garnered from various sources.

- Have prices on everything.
- make your display as close to eye level as possible.
Put extensions on your table legs or use boxes, shelves and props to raise the height of your goods.
- Have table clothes that come right down to the ground and cover the table legs and everything that you are storing underneath.
- But be careful of storing spare stock where is might be easily disappered from!
- Stand up behind your display. Do not sit down!
- Do something. Have a small project to work on.

image by antydiluvian via flickr

- SMILE and say 'hello'
- Engage the customer by asking them questions. eg "how is your day?" "are you Christmas shopping?"
- Let them browse, but be ready to show them something if they show interest.
- Do not thrust things in their face! (as if you would anyway)
- Give them a choice, offer an alternative.
- Let them try things on (except earrings - they can just hold those up)
- Be honest, they will appreciate it.
- Ask questions. Are they buying a gift? Who is it for? Are you trying to match something?
What colours do they like?
- Be proud of what you do and tell people that everything is designed and made by you.
- Say something like " Hello *smile*... I made everything here, so if I can help you with anything please let me know *smile*" (Tip by uniquedichroic.)
- Always be polite.
- Use business cards liberally, have them on your table, hand them out and include one in every purchase.
- Stay right to the end. You have paid your money so you may as well make the most of it.
Be prepared for late sales, I always sell as I am packing up.
- Take a friend with you or get someone to help for a while so you can eat, go to the toilet, whatever.
- to keep costs down, take your own food, and you will know what you're getting. Not greasy junky stuff.
- If you havent got a friend, a neighbouring stallholder will usually keep an eye on your stall while you pop off to the loo. But if not, cover your display with a sheet.
- Keep your display tidy. customers are very messy. Straighten things up when you can and put out any spare stock.

image by hoimoi via flickr

There is another great thread here about what to take to markets.
Thanks to craftsbycarina and uniquedichroic .

Images of Leura Fair - blogtoberfest day 12

me -

my stall

my neighbours -

j and m pottery

serpentmandalas

artists

and the street -